MRS CHAPLIN SPURNS OFFER OF $300,000.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18057, 18 January 1927, Page 8

MRS CHAPLIN SPURNS OFFER OF $300,000.

TURNS DOWN COMEDIAN’S DEMAND FOR YOUNGER SON, SEEKS CUSTODY OF BOTH. (Special to the “Star.”) LOS ANGELES, December 11. Lita Grey Chaplin, estranged voung wife of Charles Chaplin, comedian, will file suit for divorce and custodv of their two babies immediatel v, it was announced to-night in a statement issued in her behalf by her attorney. Mrs Chaplin said this action is the result of failure to negotiate a private settlement out of court. Mrs Chaplin’s statement was made after she had refused an offer said to have been of 300,000 dollars. Negotiations Fail of ‘Reasonable Offer.’ “Negotiations pending have failed to result in any reasonable or adequate proposal on Mr Chaplin's part for support, maintenance and education,” the statement read. “He has refused to relieve their present inconvenience and necessity. He has even made it a condition of settlement that she give up her youngest baby. This she will positively not consent to under any circumstances. “If negotiations had resulted in a fair or adequate proposal on his part Mrs Chaplin still would never consent to part with her babies. It remains to be seen whether his apparent concern about the custody of one of the babies is merely for effect. Decision is Preceded by Conference. The announcement of Mrs Chaplin’s decision to place her case in the courts was preceded by a lengthy conference between George Beebe, her attorney, Edwin T. M’Murray, her uncle, a San Francisco attorney, her mother, Mrs Lillian Spicer, and herself. Neither Mrs Chaplin nor any other in the conference would amplify the written statement. They had nothing to say. Chaplin, who has been absent from his home for three days and nights, and his attorney, Lloyd Wright, were declared out of the city to-nighj. Break is Announced by Chaplin’s Attorneys. Earlier in the day, however, Wright had announced a definite break in the negotiations. “We made them a fair offer," he said, “and it was refused. The next move is up to them.” The statement by Mrs Chaplin and her attorney was the answer. The offer mentioned by Wright, it was intimated, was for a settlement of 300,000 dollars on condition that Mrs Chaplin give up one of the children to the comedian. Mrs Chaplin with her children moved nearly two weeks ago from the Chaplin mansion in Beverly Hills to the home of her grandparents.